From the heart

Barbara Cullen, Kiwanis President, at right, and Randy Derwingson, Kiwanis Committee Chair, show off the new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) the organization donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley.

“The life-saving device has been on our wish list for some time now, and we are grateful to have one in case of emergency,” said the Clubs’ Rachel Cusick.

The Clubhouse hosts an average of 320 children during the summer months with 58 full and part-time employees. In the school year, Maxwell Clubhouse sees approximately 200 children daily with 20 full and part-time staff.

Considering the number of families that pick up and drop off, Cusick said, a large number of Sonoma residents enter the Clubhouse daily. “All program staff are trained and certified in CPR and use of the AED device, and prepared to respond to a crisis event with a child or adult.”

Kiwanis made it possible to purchase the entire AED unit and accessories to the specifications best suited to the Clubhouse. “We’re grateful for a long standing partnership with Kiwanis Sonoma Valley,” Cusick said.